Flowmeter



Nov. 5, i940. L. A. RINGELSTETTER FLOWMETER Filed June 30, 1959ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,229,496 FLowME'rERLeo A. Ringelstetter, Plain, Wis. Apnucation Juneeo, 1939, 4serial No.282,090

s claims. (o1. 'z3-21o) My invention relates Vto ilowmeters and relateskmore particularly to means for measuring and vindicating the uidconsumption of internal com- 'bustion engines installed in vehiclesoperating upon land, upon water. orl in air. 1

Itis an object of my invention to eiect accurate indication of rate offluid flow, -indicating the same in any desired manner.

lo Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed, wherein rapid variations in rate of ilow are subdued in theireect upon the indication of rate of flow, in such manner as to give anintegrated indication of rate of 15 flow. y

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed, wherein pulsating ow of the fluid therethrough is registeredat its average rate.

20 Another object of my invention is to prevent undue impedance o! freeflow of the uid reg- Other objects of my invention and the inventionitself will become more readily apparent from the following description,in which description 35 reference will be had to the accompanyingdrawing forming a. part of this specification, and in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the flowmeter in partiallongitudinal medial section; o Fig. 2 is a view taken from the line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. Referring now-to thegures of drawing, in all of which like parts. are designated by likeref- 45 erence characters, at I I show a casing in the form of acasting, comprising two pressure compartments 2 and 3, said compartmentsadapted for variably restricted communication of uid through an orifice4 of a partition 5 between the 50 two compartments.

At 5 and I I provide like ilexible preferablyl metallic diaphragms, eachforming a resiliently movable wall of a different one of the pressurecompartments 2 and 3. Means comprising a 55 closure cap 8 and gaskets 9maintain the diaphragm 6 in sealed relation to and upon the rim -flangeIll of the lower portion of the casting -in fluid-tight sealingengagement with the uppermost rim ilange I3 of the casting I by means 10of a clamping ring I4 and interposed gaskets II. A metering valveelement I5 is rigidly secured by its ends to the central portions of thetwo diaphragms, and interconnects said diaphragms, ensuringvthat thecentral portions of both diaphragms willbe deflected alike and in thesame direction. l

Although the metering valve element I5 may be secured at its ends to thecentral portions i of the two diaphragms, in any suitablemanner, I haveillustrated these as being secured thereto by the provision of like capscrews I5 and I'I having their threaded ends projected through central.apertures of the diaphragms and into threaded recesses of the meteringelement I5. Preferably thin gasket washers, shown but not designated byreference characters, are disposed# between the clamping surfaces of themetering element and the cap screws.

The casting I is likewise provided with inlet and outlet ports,respectively shown at I8 and I9, communicating through ducts 2| and 20respectively to the fluid pressure compartments 3. and 2. The meteringelement I5 preferably corn-gv prises an upper portionof sufficientlylarge diameter as to provide the frusto-conical surface 23 in a medialportion, said valve surface normally seating on the stationary valveseat 4, and below the tapered surface 23, at 22, the element I5 is ofreduced diameter for a 'substantial por- 40 v Though normally, thetapering valve portion k 23 is in a position wherein it very nicelyseats on the upper circular edge -25 of the priiice 4, when the elementI5 is moved upwardly, the tapered valve 23 becomes a metering valve, ac-

cording to the degree \of its upward movement.

Under normal conditions of use, the valve' is seldom movedlongitudinally more than .040".

Cylindrical webs Il-M of the casing I 'sur- -rounding the approach anddischarge sides of .5 the valve orifice 2l serve to conduct the flow ofIn the normal operation of my device, iluid, passing from a source offluid, such as gasoline or other fuel for iin-automotive engine, ows toIl the engine in the direction of the arrow 20, through the coupling 21,inlet port I8, and duct 2i. The pressure o f fluid in the compartmentI-will exert a pressure on the underside of the diaphragm 'I, in excessoiiluid pressure in the` compartment 2, which exerts an opposingpressure effect on the diaphragm t, and the meter- J ing element It willbe lifted upwardly by the l'diaphragm 'I by the excess of pressure inthe compartment I, thereby permitting an increased new of such uquidfue1 through the orince 4,.

the rate of such flow depending upon the difference of fluid pressureinthe two compartments 3 and 2, respectively, and since normally thepressure of fluid entering at 2B is more nearly constant, the rate offlow vwill largely depend' on the rate of consumption of fuel by theautomotive engine to which fuel is supplied through" the coupling 28 inthe direction of the arrow 2l. Although I have shown the apparatus ofthe drawing, comprising the metering valve, in a position wherein theinlet chamber is superposed -over the discharge chamber, i. e., with themetering'pin extending vertically,'it will be understood that as amatter of fact commonly this will be 40 placed horizontally, for variousreasons, such as the entrapment of airor gas bubbles in contact with thediaphragm, or the deposition of dirt or the like which may be in thegasoline or other fluid on the lower diaphragm, .to balance the 4geffect-of gravity on the two diaphragme.

Fuel flowing in a more unrestricted manner through the throttle valve oithe engine, not shown, the pressure in the pressure compartment 2 willbe -substantially reduced over the inlet 50 pressure effective in thecompartment l, whereupon the' diaphragm 'I will overcome the pressure ofuid on the diaphragm 6 to lift the metering element Il upwardly, therebycausing an increased opening ofthe valve, permitting an 5 increased flowof fluid through the orice 4 to supply the increased demand for fuel bythe engine.

However, in such case, the increased rate of -flow "will commensuratelyreduce the pressure 00 difference on the two sides of the valve openingl, as indicated by the degree of elevation of the valve 23.

It is to be noted that at all times, therefore, the metering element |lwill be held in different 05 adjusted positions, longitudinally of theelement I I, by the differential effect .of pressure exerted on the twodiaphragms I and 6, and-that this adjusted position is responsive to andpropor tional to the rate of flow of fluid through the 7 orifice I, andthence to the fuel consuming automotive engine. l

Herein, where I have referred tothe liquid as fuel or gasoline, and havereferred to said fuel as being supplied to an engine, it will be 78understood that the device will operate in the 4 element l2. Rapidvariations in the rate oi' ilow samemannerwherotherliquidsareusedandsupplied to other devices than automotive engines, the arrangement andproportion of parts herein illustrated being more particularly chosenfor application inthe fuel line of .an automotive At I2 I show a housingmounted on the uppermostilange Ilofthecasting I,saidhousing serving toenclose electrical controlling means for operating an electricalindicator Il, in a manner to be described. x

'lhe electrical controlling mechanism. comprises a resilient controllingreed Il normally lightly restingwith spring pressure contact on theupper surface of the cap screw I 'I at the center of the diaphragm l; byvirtue of an extension II2 of any suitable material, whereby the reed 8|may be flexed upwardly and downwardly responsive to movements, of themetering ele ment II.

Above `the reed 3| I provide a compound reed l1, of preferably the samelength, comprising a suPDOrting portion Il of laminated bi-metalllcstrip construction, and another portion oi the same material, shown atIl, the two strips being secured end to end by a connector of preferablythermal insulating material.'

The `bimetallic strips 3l and I4 are formed preferably of the same kindof laminated expansive material, the strip u having the most expansivematerial on the bottom, and the strip Il vhaving the most expansivematerial on lthe top, the strip I3 being provided to compensate fortemperature changes of the air within the housing I2. f

At Il I show a pair of electrical contacts carried by the ends of thetwo reeds. In the operation of mv device, the contact elements may benormally slightly separated, or as illustrated, lightly in contact eachwith the other, and in thelatter case completing an electrical circuitherein illustrated as comprising an electrical source of current such asa battery B and a thermally respOnslve electrical indicator Il, and anelectrical heating winding 31 placed about 45 the portion M of thecompound reed, whereby are therefore subdued in their eifect upon theindication of the rate of flow as explained more fully in Patent`No.1,885,049 to Kalle.'

'Ihe electrical apparatus and circuit illustrated herein for the remoteindication of movements or pressure is not' se a part of the presentinvention,l being ill trated and described in' prior Letters Patent ofthe United States, No. 1,885,048, to F. M. Slough, dated October 25,1932, No. 1,885,049, to T. Kalle, bearing the same date, and No.1,885,050, to T. J. Smulski, being also of the same date, and to whichprior patents reference may'be had for a full and complete descriptionof some of the varying alternative forms as may be employed. Nor is myinvention limited in all phases to a tele-gauge system for indication,as an indicator hand may be directly applied to the device as shown inthe patent to Kalle, or remote indications may be achieved in any otherknown manner: nor is my invention' 'Il limited to any particular form oftele-gauge apparatus or electrical circuit, as many forms of apparatusare available for eecting the telegauge function, for use in connectionwith my improved iiowmeter.

Having thus described my invention in an embodiment which I at presentprefer, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be madefrom the embodiment herein described and L illustrated, but withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim: 1. In a rate of flow indicating mechanism, the 'l5 combinationof a casing having liquid iiow inlet and outlet ports and a pair ofcompartments respectively communicating with the said ports, a

perforated wall between the compartments, a

valve for variably restricting flow from one of 20 said compartments tothe other compartment through the wall perforation, each of saidcornpartments also having a resiliently movable wall, said valveinterconnecting said walls and effecting simultaneous movements thereofwith said 5 valve, in the same direction, commensurably responsive tovarying differences in fluid pressure in the two' compartments, andindicating means responsive to simultaneous movement of said walls.

2. In a rate of ow indicating mechanism, the combination of a casinghaving liquid flow inlet and outlet ports and a pair of compartmentsrespectively communicating with `the said ports, a perforated wallbetween the compartments, a valve for variably restricting flow from oneof said compartments to the other compartment through the wallperforation, each of said compartments also having a resiliently movablewall, said valve interconnecting said walls and eecting simultaneousmovements thereof with said valve, 40 in the same direction,commensurably responsive to varying differences in fluid pressure in thetwo compartments, indicating means responsive to simultaneous movementof said walls, said indieating means comprising a remotely disposed andoutlet ports and a pair of compartments respectively communicating withthe said ports, a perforated wall between the compartments, a valve forvariably restricting flow from one of said compartments to the othercompartment through the wall perforation, each of said compartments alsohaving a resiliently movable wall, said valve interconnecting said wallsand eiecting simultaneous movements thereof with said valve, in the samedirection, commensurably responsive to varying differences in fluidpressure in the two compartments, indicating means responsive tosimultaneous movement of said walls, said valve substantially closingsaid perforation upon substantial equality of uid pressure in the twocompartments.

4. In a rate of flow indicating mechanism, the combination of a casinghaving liquid ow inlet and outlet ports and a pair of compartmentsrespectively communicating with thesaid ports, a perforated wall betweenthe compartments, a valve for variably restricting oW from one of saidcompartments to the other compartment through the wall perforation, eachof said compartments also having a resiliently movable wall, said valveinterconnecting said walls and effecting simultaneous movements thereofwith said valve, in the same direction, commensurably responsive tovarying differences in fluid pressure in the two compartments,indicating means including an indicator responsive to simultaneousmovement of said walls, said valve substantially closing saidperforation upon substantial equality of fluid pressure in the twocompartments, and electrical means responsive to varying movements ofsaid valve for causingisaid indicator to indicate the degree of saidvalve movements at a point physically removed from said casing. v

5. In a rate of flow indicating mechanism, the combination of a casinghaving liquid flow inlet and outlet ports and a pair of compartmentsrespectively communicating with the said ports, a perforated wallbetween the compartments, a valve for variably restricting flow from oneof said compartments to the other compartment through the wallperforation, each of said compartments also having a resiliently movablewall, said valve interconnecting said walls and effecting simultaneousmovements thereof with said valve, in the same direction, commensurablyresponsive to varying diiferences in uid pressure in the twocompartments, and indicating means responsive to simultaneous movementof said walls, and baile means in one compartment at the approach sideof said valve.

LEO A. RINGE'LSTE'I'IER.

